Do you make the airline arrangements first or DVC reservation first? (m)

[OurDogCisco]

We're planning on visiting next June at BC. We live in CA and I am not sure if I should make the airline reservation before or after I make the reservation at BC? I'm thinking we'll stay from Saturday through the following Sunday (so 8 nights). We got a great deal on airfare for our cruise in May 2004 and booked the plane reservation in last June 2003. So, about 10 months out. So, what should we do? If I see a great airfare should I take it?

Thanks,
I'm the new DVC newbie.

 

[Boo]

We always book the DVC reservation first. Flying out of Chicago- we have a lot more flexibility with different airlines and hunting for cheaper fares/sales than we do with the flexibility of DVC resorts and dates- especially when we opt to book at resorts other than our home BWV. Flying from CA, I think you'd have the same advantages with busy airports. But then again, someone flying out of say Nebraska- it may make more financial sense for them to pickup their airfare first and then try for dates, so long as the tickets were refundable. I'd hate for anyone to get stuck with tickets they can't dump b/c DVC was booked.

 

[CarolMN]

I book DVC first - at the 11 month window. Then I start watching airfares and book as soon as I see one I can live with.

 

[DebbieB]

I always book the room first. The one time I booked air first I got burned, I could not get the room I wanted (3 months prior, non-DVC).

 

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

You might want to think about using Southwest Airlines. We always book online, and it's a very simple thing to change flights if necessary. You don't lose any money at all if you re-book, as long as you use the funds from the original reservation within a year of booking the original flight. Have a great vacation!

 

[Pa@okw95]

We always make reservations first, then our guests can make their airline reservations. We don't fly but we live in CT only 1200 miles from WDW.

 

[jx3smom]

We always make the DVC reservation first. We usually drive but if a really good airfare deal comes up then we sometimes book it, if not we just drive.

 

[LIFERBABE]

For Member Homecoming, since they announced it only 5 months ahead, DVC studios were pretty booked. I found a great airfare thru my Travel Agent (but we know how quickly airfare rates change) so I had her hold on the line while I called MS and made sure I had a ressie. I waitlisted for what I really wanted but booked a ressie so I could buy my air.

My waitlist came through, but either way I was going!

So my answer would be simultaneously!

 

[DemoBri1]

There's no question in my mind...definitely make the room reservation first. What good is a plane reservation for a certain timeframe, if you cannot get the room for that same timeframe.

For out trip this past December, I booked the room in January of 2003, and didn't do anything with the flight until at least August. I'm just wondering thought with the price of fuel going up just how cheap the airfares are going to get?

Brian

 

[pumpkinboy]

I am booking a ressie as we speak. I book BWV at 11 months for std view , then book Delta or Delta/Song at 331 days (5 days later). Booking on points that far ahead is not as risky as at 7 months when just anyone can book our home resort, so I feel I will likely be able to add or subtract a day depending on when I get acceptible airfare. When booking on Frequent Flyer miles, I book the room just so I have something, then when the Frequent Flyer window opens and closes (usually within a few hours ), I can likely adjust to the flights I was able to get.

 

[nitsirk987]

i justed booked our first trip "home" a few months ago. i called and set up the rooms first and just this past week, found an airfare that was a decent price and the right times that we like. finally ended up going with song for the flight. leaving from boston with a direct flight both ways!

 

[jomik1]

For both my trips I booked my room ressies with DVC first.

Booked our stay in August when we bought into DVC in March.
Just made airline reservations a few weeks ago on United. I've been watching the fares and I was finally able to book the 4 of us for $190 each non-stop.

I made my DVC ressies for next March at the 11 month window. So now I get to watch the airfares all over again!!

 

[Beast fan]

We make the DVC arrangements first. DW and I typically don't care which airlines gets us there, out of which airport (there are several within a 2 hour driver from here). When we DO book DVC at the 7-month window..... DW will suggest a range of dates to travel (say, a 2-wk timeframe), and I'll try to see when, in that timeframe, the cheapest airfares are. DW will then make the DVC ressie based on that. and then I'll make the airline ressies.

Dave

 

[Simba's Mom]

Originally posted by pumpkinboy
When booking on Frequent Flyer miles, I book the room just so I have something, then when the Frequent Flyer window opens and closes (usually within a few hours )

This is the only reason that might justify booking air first-those Frequent Flier miles. That's why we already have air reservations to Hilton Head next March, but not room ressies yet. Considering how nervous I am about being able to get ressies there, I'd definitely recommend booking room first. This is a very nerve-wracking wait!

 

[Mickmse2002]

We always book the room first in order to ensure the ressie. Flying out of Detroit almost guarantees a lot of flight options but the same cannot be said of booking the room we want.

 

[DrTomorrow]

DVC first, then air. There were a lot of flights out of Detroit - NWA; and even more out of Phoenix - SWA; but there's only one DVC....

 

[pmcpmc]

we find the airfare first then book Dvc.
It has always worked well.

 

[AnnaS]

We always book reservation first - no matter where we are going. Then we start looking at airfares soon after that. If there is a considerable price difference from one day to another with air, we might add/take away a day if possible.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Always DVC first. We are 1 hour from 3 airports.
1.Cleveland
2.Pittsburgh
3.Akron

 

[JimC]

DVC is booked first, then air travel same day DVC is confirmed. We use FF tickets almost exclusively so airfare is rarely an issue for us.